What Do You Fall For?
All of us fall. Some fall because of the good they do. Others because of their evil actions, choices, and decisions.
“I need your help,” Marcus begged Andrew as he entered his barbershop while he was closing up.
After locking the door, he grabbed a broom, began sweeping, and announced, “I can feed you, lend you some of my clothing, and give you somewhere comfortable to sleep for a while. Along with hope, encouragement, and motivation.”
Plopping down in the nearest chair, Marcus disclosed, “thank you, but I need more than that.”
“Huh!” Andrew said, halting his action as the broom fell from his grasp.
“I need your help to start over,” Marcus explained.
“Man,” Andrew replied, picking up the broom. “I am just starting over, again, and the little I have, I can share it with you. That’s it.”
Marcus scratched his head, staring at himself in the mirror. His heart’s sadness and regret were flooding his eyes with disappointment, sorrow, and tears. He let out, “For the past fifteen years, you have started over many times. Whenever you fall, you keep rising again as if it’s nothing. Where do you find the strength and hope to keep rebounding?”
Andrew stared at him in knotted brows, then related, “I don’t have a choice, brother. Life will move even when I don’t.”
Marcus pleads, “You are my only hope.”
Andrew’s eyes popped open, edging closer to Marcus; he said, “you have been in business for more than twenty years. This is the worst I have seen you. You can’t find anyone else with more resources to help you?”
Shame and regret pulled Marcus’ face to his lap, and silence snatched control for a minute. When his head resurfaced, tears were flowing from his eyes, he revealed, “I fell for bad.”
“You fell for what?” Andrew asked.
Wiping away his tears with the back of the multi-colored pullover he was wearing, he lamented, “my late mother often preached, ‘all of us fall. Some fall for being good. Others fall because of bad karma they created by their greed and dishonesty.”
He paused, fighting the painful memories, then continued, “she counseled that someone is always there to help the good rise again. I didn’t heed her words of wisdom.”
His words stirred something in Andrew’s heart, and Marcus disclosed. “You are the only one I reached out to that hasn’t turned me away.”
Andrew’s heart flipped over. “Damn,” slipped out of his mouth, and he rebounded, “My late mom preached too, and she guides, ‘good and evil are actors. They both play character roles. Good deeds will be overpaid. But evil actions will always be underpaid.’ She was trying to tell me that more benefits come from being kind than being cruel. She encouraged me to always chose kindness. ”
“So that’s why you keep rising again.”
“Yes, friend,” Andrew said, reaching out to comfort his friend. Marcus rose to return the embrace. “As your grandmother said, I fell for being good. How I fall makes getting up easier. I will help you any way I can.”
All of us fall. Some fall because of the good they do. Others because of their evil actions, choices, and decisions. A kind heart will never run out of someone to help them because someone always turns back to return the kindness they get.
Are you that someone?
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